5 Stocks Going Ex-Dividend Tuesday: CHE, GXP, SIX, HOG, GS

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013, 10 U.S. common stocks are scheduled to go ex-dividend. The dividend yields on these stocks range from 0.5% to 8%. All of these stocks can be found on our stocks going ex-dividend section of our dividend calendar.

Owners of Chemed Corporation (NYSE: CHE) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 18 cents per share. At a price of $67.00 as of 9:30 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 1.1%.

The average volume for Chemed Corporation has been 272,100 shares per day over the past 30 days. Chemed Corporation has a market cap of $1.3 billion and is part of the health services industry. Shares are down 1.3% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday.

Chemed Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates in the healthcare, and repair and maintenance fields in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Vitas and Roto-Rooter. The company has a P/E ratio of 14.31.

TheStreet Ratings rates Chemed Corporation as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its growth in earnings per share, increase in net income, revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and increase in stock price during the past year. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow. You can view the full Chemed Corporation Ratings Report now.

Owners of Great Plains Energy (NYSE: GXP) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 22 cents per share. At a price of $23.53 as of 9:35 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 3.6%.

The average volume for Great Plains Energy has been 1.1 million shares per day over the past 30 days. Great Plains Energy has a market cap of $3.7 billion and is part of the utilities industry. Shares are up 16.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday.

Great Plains Energy Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. It also provides regulated steam services in St. Joseph, Missouri. The company has a P/E ratio of 15.01.

TheStreet Ratings rates Great Plains Energy as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income, reasonable valuation levels and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had generally high debt management risk by most measures that we evaluated. You can view the full Great Plains Energy Ratings Report now.

Owners of Six Flags Entertainment (NYSE: SIX) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 90 cents per share. At a price of $78.38 as of 9:35 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 4.6%.

The average volume for Six Flags Entertainment has been 427,500 shares per day over the past 30 days. Six Flags Entertainment has a market cap of $3.8 billion and is part of the leisure industry. Shares are up 28.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday.

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation owns and operates regional theme, water, and zoological parks. The company's parks offer various state-of-the-art and traditional thrill rides, water attractions, themed areas, concerts and shows, restaurants, game venues, and retail outlets. The company has a P/E ratio of 11.02.

TheStreet Ratings rates Six Flags Entertainment as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, notable return on equity, good cash flow from operations, solid stock price performance and compelling growth in net income. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had generally high debt management risk by most measures that we evaluated. You can view the full Six Flags Entertainment Ratings Report now.

Owners of Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 21 cents per share. At a price of $55.94 as of 9:35 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 1.5%.

The average volume for Harley-Davidson has been 1.5 million shares per day over the past 30 days. Harley-Davidson has a market cap of $12.9 billion and is part of the automotive industry. Shares are up 18% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday.

Harley-Davidson, Inc. manufactures heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycles. The company operates through two segments: the Motorcycles segment and the Financial Services segment. The company has a P/E ratio of 19.40.

TheStreet Ratings rates Harley-Davidson as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, notable return on equity, impressive record of earnings per share growth, increase in stock price during the past year and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company is trading at a premium valuation based on our review of its current price compared to such things as earnings and book value. You can view the full Harley-Davidson Ratings Report now.

Owners of Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 50 cents per share. At a price of $156.46 as of 9:36 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 1.3%.

The average volume for Goldman Sachs Group has been 4.0 million shares per day over the past 30 days. Goldman Sachs Group has a market cap of $73.1 billion and is part of the financial services industry. Shares are up 24.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. provides investment banking, securities, and investment management services, as well as financial services to corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net-worth individuals worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 10.99.

TheStreet Ratings rates Goldman Sachs Group as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, growth in earnings per share, attractive valuation levels, increase in net income and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow. You can view the full Goldman Sachs Group Ratings Report now.

One benefit of owning a stock is the potential that you will be paid a dividend. The distribution of dividend payments is another way for a company to share its profit with you. A dividend means that the company pays you a certain amount of money, either as a one-time payment or more commonly on a quarterly basis, for each share of stock you own.

Many times, dividends come at the expense of greater price appreciation, because the company is distributing its profits to shareholders rather than reinvesting the profits back into the growth of the company. However, companies that pay dividends can be very attractive to investors when they offer a steady stream of income. There are some important terms and dates an investor should be familiar with before purchasing any dividend-paying companies. Let's work through an example to help better explain some of these terms:

On March 1, ABC Widget Company has decided that because it holds excess cash and lacks investment opportunities, it would like to reward shareholders with a regular quarterly dividend payment. The date for this particular announcement is known as the declaration date. It is on this date that the company announces the specific dividend payment along with the holder of record date (aka record date) and the payment date. The company announces that a dividend payment of 25 cents per share will be payable March 31, 2012 (the payment date) to all shareholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 2012 (holder of record date). What does this all mean? Well the short story is that the company looks at its records on March 16 and anyone listed on the books as an owner of ABC Widget company will be eligible for the dividend payment (on March 31).

The one other important term to remember is the ex-dividend date. The ex-dividend date (typically two trading days before the holder of record date for U.S. securities) is the day in which a company begins trading without the dividend. In order to have a claim on a dividend, shares must be purchased no later than the last business day before the ex-dividend date. A company trading ex-dividend will have the upcoming dividend subtracted from the share price at the start of the trading day. Many times, the price of a stock will increase in anticipation of the upcoming dividend as the ex-dividend date approaches, yet will fall back by the amount of the dividend on the ex-dividend date.

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.